Growth versus Security: Old and New EU Members Quests for a New Economic and Social Model

European Union member states have always sought to share a common vision of an economic and social model that would be a blueprint for all states to follow and one that would make Europe both prosperous and different from other parts of the world. For many European countries this blueprint has traditionally been the European Social Model. This is a social system based on a high level of social protection, social dialogue and public services to cover activities vital for social cohesion. Economic and political developments since the 1990s have made the blueprint less clear and attractive.